Billy Bragg

Widely regarded as one of the finest protest singers of his generation, Billy Bragg became something of a national treasure in his British homeland thanks to a keen sense of political activism, a biting wit and an influential sound which fused the socially conscious folk of Woody Guthrie with the defiant attitude of the punk scene. A regular at leftist rallies across the U.K., Bragg's music provided an authentic insight into the issues of the day but also found the space to focus on matters of the heart, making him one of the 1980s' most compelling chart artists. His distinctly British subject matter ensured he remained more of a cult concern in the U.S., but few modern-day troubadours performed with as much conviction or injected as much passion into their work.